By peace udugba- The daily torch media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has participated in a high-level France–Nigeria strategic dialogue on combating transnational illicit drug trafficking, held on Tuesday, 4 February 2026, at the Embassy of France in Nigeria.
The dialogue, themed “Trends, Gaps and Opportunities to Strengthen Nigeria’s Response to Transnational Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes,” convened key national and international stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory and security agencies.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was represented at the forum by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
Opening the session, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, stressed the importance of sustained international cooperation, intelligence sharing and institutional synergy in addressing cross-border drug trafficking and related crimes.
During the panel discussion, Comptroller Oshoba responded to questions from Folusho Adelekan of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the successes recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service in drug interceptions at the ports and the prosecution of offenders.
He attributed these achievements to effective leadership, enhanced inter-agency collaboration and the legal backing provided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act. Oshoba noted that the gains recorded under the immediate past Comptroller-General are being strengthened under the current leadership of Adewale Adeniyi, guided by the Service’s core mandates of collaboration, innovation and consolidation.
The Customs Area Controller highlighted strategic partnerships with agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Nigeria Forensic Intelligence Agency, describing them as critical to intelligence-led operations and successful prosecutions.
He further emphasised the frontline role of the Nigeria Customs Service at seaports, airports and land borders, adding that continuous capacity building, deployment of modern technology and intelligence-driven enforcement have improved the Service’s ability to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Major General Buba Marwa (Rtd.), acknowledged the support of INTERPOL and other international partners, while commending inter-agency collaboration in strengthening border security and drug control efforts.
Participants at the interactive session identified key challenges, including manpower gaps, the need for stronger political will, and improved transparency within the justice system, agreeing that addressing these issues would significantly enhance Nigeria’s collective response to organised crime.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Fonbaustier thanked participants for their contributions and reaffirmed France’s commitment to sustained engagement and future strategic dialogues in the fight against transnational crime.
